One More Time [A Larry Stylinson FanFic]

Chapter 11: Week Seven

Marley was cagey, waiting for Bev to show up for rehearsals. It was Country Rock Week, and she had ideas. She ran through warm-up exercises twice, and she was about to start singing some of her contenders, with or without an audience, when Bev finally walked in, thirty minutes late.

As usual, Bev acted like she was perfectly on time.

"Week 7 is Country Rock. It's a genre simply awash of heartbreak, Girlfriend – but can you find a country song to broadcast your message and explode like a rock song on all cylinders?" Bev asked, one perfectly shaped eyebrow raised.

Marley tilted her chin skyward and said, "Miranda Lambert. My first choice would be Vice, since it's the most rock-oriented."

Bev looked over at Greg, who had already queued the song.

The music started and Marley quickly lost herself, allowing herself to think of Tom, and how she needed to move on, and what personas she might need to adopt to get that job done. Not unlike the persona she was creating here on The Show. She wasn't really this mad, or this tough.

"Stay of the needle dropping on the vinyl, neon singer with a jukebox title full of heartbreak, 33, 45, 78. When it hurts this good, you gotta play it twice..."

BAM. Sucker punch every time the beat drops.

Marley was feeling it. She had been able to sleep in that morning, and then go for a run, pushing herself while she belted out songs to work on her control. She'd showered and changed and made note – again – to not forget her duffel bag of gym clothes down here when she left.

When she finished singing, Bev commented only, "Nice. For country, I suppose. What else were you thinking about?"

Marley nodded to Greg, who clicked on the next song in her playlist. Little Red Wagon began playing. Marley's hip started feeling out the beat, entirely independent of her desires. "You only love me for my big sunglasses..." she started.

It was a rollicking song, and Marley danced until the last note was played.

Bev looked her up and down when she stopped, panting. Finally, Bev spoke. "Do you always dance like that during that performance?"

Marley wasn't sure if Bev was pleased or annoyed. "Uh, well, I already ran three miles this morning, so I'm a little tired. But yeah, I try to."

As soon as she said 'try', she regretted it. Bev was do or die, never try. But the vocal coach overlooked it this once.

"Your vocals were better on Vice, but I think this other song was a better performance. You're showing a playful side. And it still keeps with your theme." Bev couldn't resist a tiny eyeroll there. "If you can dance on performance night the way you did then, and truly tell a story, I would go with the second song," Bev decided.

Marley ran through Little Red Wagon four more tries, and then Bev blissfully called a stop, happy with what she was seeing. Marley thought she was going to direct her to practice the group song, Old Town Road, but instead she asked who Marley was thinking about for her duet.

"Sam," Marley insisted, before Bev had even gotten the question out of her mouth.

Marley was waiting for an exasperated sigh or something along those lines, but instead Bev swallowed a quick smirk and nodded.

Then she did tell Marley to start practicing the group number...but she also told her to be back at 6 p.m. for her duet performance, assuming Sam was going to agree. She said she had a song in mind for them, and to bring her best creative spirit. It was quite a speech from Bev, who mostly acted put upon when having to listen to creative ideas. This was...this was helpful; and hopeful. It was something. Marley smiled, thinking she was for sure going to see Harry later that night. And threw herself into the group number as much as she could.